Golf 

Many golfers take part in the Race To Legends 2025's first stage in Đà Lạt in September to vie for a slot in the Vietnam Legends Championship 2025 which will be held later this month in HCM City. Photos courtesy of VG Corp

HÀ NỘI — Golfing greats are set to make history as the Vietnam Legends Championship 2025 tees off in HCM City from November 25 to 30, marking the start of an international golf series that aims to put the city firmly on the global Legends Tour map.

Considered the largest international golf competition ever staged in the country, this year’s Vietnam Legends Championship will feature more than 60 world golf legends, hundreds of business leaders, and over 3,000 local and international golfers.

They will compete at the 36-hole Tân Sơn Nhất Golf Course.

“This is not only a top sports tournament for international golf legends and Vietnamese players, but also a bridge for cultural, economic, tourism and human exchange between Việt Nam and international friends,” said Nguyễn Nam Nhân, deputy director of HCM City’s Department of Culture and Sports.

“We hope that through this event, HCM City will affirm its role as a centre of regional and world-class sporting events while opening up many investment and cooperation opportunities for the business community.”

In addition to being a sporting event, the championship is expected to promote cultural and tourism exchange, inspire young people to take up golf through the Future Legends event, and boost cooperation between enterprises via round-table conferences and business networking sessions.

President of the Legends Tour Ryan Howsam said HCM City held tremendous development potential and that its selection reflected recognition of Việt Nam’s strategic position in global sports and investment.

He said golf legends would come not only to compete but also to connect and explore long-term collaboration opportunities.

The Legends Tour will offer a total prize fund of 20 million euros (US$21.5 million), with the Vietnam Legends Championship 2025 alone awarding at least 500,000 euros.

According to Nguyễn Gia Bảo, President of The Golf House Việt Nam and deputy head of the organising committee, one of the reasons she decided to host a leg of the Legends Tour in Việt Nam was to help develop the economy and attract investment.

She said inviting world billionaires to Việt Nam was not an easy task but organising the Vietnam Legends Championship would make it easier to bring them to the country.

The Legends Tour is designed for professional golfers aged over 50, though other competitors can join through a handicap system. Many of the amateur golfers are businesspeople and investors willing to travel long distances to Việt Nam for the tournament.

One of them is Dileep Kumar, owner of Heilbroon Properties in Dubai.

He said golf in particular, and sport in general, offers many valuable lessons, especially in business. Winning in golf, he noted, is not just about defeating an opponent — it’s about overcoming yourself.

He added that patience and consistent effort were key to mastering a good swing, just as perseverance was essential for business success.

Kumar said he was excited to play in the Vietnam Legends Championship. He did not set a target but hoped to have a relaxing time and enjoy chatting with both legends and fellow golfers.

Legend Phil Harrison, CEO of the Legends Tour, tees off to open stage 1 of Race to Legends.

The Legends Tour is the current name of the European Senior Tour and is the official tour for players over 50. It is part of the PGA European Tour alongside the DP World Tour and European Challenge Tour.

The European Senior Tour was established in 1992 after calls from 60 leading professionals to create a senior circuit, five years after the first Senior Open in 1987.

The vision for the tour was set out in 2020, placing the legends front and centre of the brand and creating unique opportunities for amateur golfers to play alongside professionals and celebrities in live tournaments.

It is the second time that the tournament has been held in Việt Nam. In the 2023 edition, Adilson da Silva took the trophy and ensured that the race for the season-long honours went into the final week.

With no shortage of coastline or beautiful beaches, Việt Nam proudly offers a tropical climate and stunning landscapes as it emerges as a bright new destination in the golfing world.

Việt Nam was named Asia’s Leading Golf Destination for six consecutive years from 2017 to 2022, as well as the World’s Leading Golf Destination in 2019 and 2021. VNS